About
Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) is the national organization behind a network of more than 5,500 local Boys & Girls Clubs serving more than 4 million children and youth each year across the United States, on Native lands, and on military installations. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, BGCA provides safe spaces, caring mentors, healthy meals and snacks, and evidence-based programs focused on academics, leadership, and wellness during the critical out-of-school hours.
Mission
BGCA's mission is "to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens."
What they do
The organization describes its work through three pillars:
- Safer childhoods: providing safe and fun places for kids to grow and thrive
- Life-enhancing programs: delivering engaging programs focused on academics, health, and leadership
- Caring mentors: offering trained staff who guide, coach, and motivate kids
Local Clubs are locally led, with national program, training, and support systems provided by BGCA. The organization points to a national need it aims to fill: 7.7 million kids and teens are alone and unsupervised after school, while nearly 25 million lack access to afterschool programs.
History
The movement began in 1860 in Hartford, Connecticut, when four women — Mary Goodwin, Alice Goodwin, Elizabeth Hammersley, and Louisa Bushnell — created the first Club to give boys roaming the streets a positive alternative. In 1906, the Federated Boys Clubs was formed in Boston with 53 member organizations, marking the start of the national movement. The organization was renamed Boys Clubs of America in 1931, received a U.S. Congressional Charter in 1956, and became Boys & Girls Clubs of America in 1990 "to recognize the fact that girls are a part of our cause." It celebrated its centennial as a national organization in 2006.
Scale and impact
BGCA reports that its network provides a safe haven for more than 4 million youth annually. Among Club teens, 92% expect to graduate from high school and 81% expect to complete post-secondary education. BGCA states that every $1 invested in Boys & Girls Clubs results in $10.32 in economic benefits, and it maintains high ratings from Charity Navigator, Candid, and CharityWatch.
Financials
According to IRS filings compiled by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer (Boys & Girls Clubs of America, EIN 13-5562976, Atlanta, GA), the national organization reported total revenue of about $170.7 million and total expenses of about $230.6 million in fiscal year 2023, with year-end total assets of about $90 million. In fiscal year 2022 it reported total revenue of about $205.2 million and total expenses of about $182.9 million.